card review Stardust Dragon: The Safest Card in the Game

Card

Review

Stardust Dragon

Card text:

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

You can Tribute this card to negate the activation of a Spell Card,Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect that destroys a card(s) and the field, and destroy that card. If you negate an effect this way, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard during the End Phase.

Stardust Dragon was initially released in the Duelist Genesis as one of the first synchro monsters. Since then it has become one of the most dominant level 8 synchro monsters in the game. As someone who has played for over 10 years, I typically frown upon the use of Stardust Dragon because of its weakness to certain removal and destruction by battle. However, the versatility that Stardust brings with it is unrivaled. Stardust can negate any destruction effect at spell speed two by tributing itself, which means it can stop anything short of a counter trap card. Not only that but Stardust special summons during the end phase, allowing the recursion of its effect turn after turn.

Stardust Dragon is currently one of the best cards in the game due to the meta. With most decks running a full play set of Mystical Space Typhoon as well as two Mirror Force and potentially a dark hole, Stardust is a solid option against any deck. On top of that, some of the top decks, Fire Fist, Mermail, Inzektor and Fire Kings all rely heavily on on-theme destruction effects which will be shut down by Stardust. There is also the advantage that right now Fiendish Chain is the monster negation trap of choice. Since Fiendish Chain only prevents the effects of monsters rather than the cost, Stardust Dragon can activate its effect even while affected by a Fiendish Chain or while Skill Drain is on the field.

Stardust Dragon can be used in any deck with level 8 synchro capability. However decks that run cards like Masked Chameleon or Summoner Monk can make Stardust Dragon more easily and more often. Stardust Dragon is even more potent in a deck that allows for trap cards to prevent destruction by battle. Forbidden Lance can also keep your Stardust safe from Compulsory Evacuation Device and Dimensional Prison.

Despite Stardust Dragon's inherent protection ability, it is weak to non-destruction monster removal such as Dimensional Prison or Compulsory Evacuation Device. Stardust also has a measly 2500 attack for a level 8 synchro. This allows for Stardust Dragon to be destroyed easily by battle. Simple plays like Tour Guide from the Underworld can make Leviathan Dragon who can destroy Stardust with an attack. Decks that run Fire Formation Tensen can increase most of their monsters over 2500 attack as well. Another simple way to get rid of Stardust Dragon is to remove it from the graveyard after it has negated a destruction effect but before it has special summoned itself. For example, using a Dark Hole to force your opponent to use Stardust Dragon's effect or let it die will ensure that it ends in the graveyard. Then you can a sided card such as D.D. Crow to remove it from play. Constellar Ptolemy M7 also returns cards from the graveyard to the hand as does Tour Bus.

The main strength of Stardust is that it is almost always a safe pick. If you do not know what deck you are against, you can almost always safely make Stardust Dragon as it will typically be difficult for your opponent to get rid of in 1 or 2 turns and can force your opponent to waste resources. It also means that for your next turn you will have Stardust Dragon to ensure the safety of any new monsters you plan to summon by protecting them from the likes of Bottomless Trap Hole and Torrential Tribute.

The disadvantage of Stardust Dragon is that if make it against a deck that has non-destruction monster removal easily at its disposal, such as a Spellbook deck, then you will have used 2 monsters to make the one Stardust and then lost it to 1 card, losing a resource in the process. Losing out on a resource like that can put you hopelessly behind an opponent.

Stardust Dragon has been printed as an Ultimate, Ultra, Secret and Super rare so it is no longer very difficult to obtain.

This card is great as a standalone and even better with some support without having any current significant weakness. As a result, Stardust Dragon deserves an overall rating of 9 out of 10 as it will not always mean certain victory but often will win a game by itself.

Modified on March 22, 2014 06:01 am

Rating

Current score for this Card Review, based on 8 votes:

3.75

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I love Stardust Dragon to death. Out of all cards, this, no. Assault Mode may be my favorite card. That being said, this review only rewords the text on the card. You mentioned no strategies and none of the monsters that require Stardust Dragon. You have Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode, Majestic Star Dragon, Shooting Star Dragon, and Shooting Quasar Dragon. If I reviewed this, I would surely mention more than just it being safe.

Excellent point. I actually forgot about most stardust "power up" strategies such as assault mode and shooting star dragon since I typically only play stardust dragon as a non-themed extra deck card. That being said, those strategies are all viable and I'm glad you mentioned them. Maybe in the future I will do a review that focuses on stardust specific strategies. Thanks for reading!